Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015
1Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015
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Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015
I, Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, make the following determination.
Dated 25 March 2015
Greg Hunt
Greg Hunt
Minister for the Environment
Contents
Part 1 —Preliminary
1 Name
2 Commencement
3 Authority
4 Duration
5 Definitions
6 Meaning of high rainfall zone and low rainfall zone
7 Meaning of early dry season and late dry season
Part 2 —Savanna fire management projects
8 Savanna fire management projects
Part 3 —Project requirements
Division 1 —General
9 General
Division 2 —Additionality
10 Requirement in lieu of newness requirement
11 Requirement in lieu of regulatory additionality requirement
Division 3 —Project area
12 Requirement to be in high or low rainfall zone
13 Requirement to have specified vegetation fuel types
14 When separate project areas in different rainfall zones are needed
15 Variations to project areas
Division 4 —Project activity
16 Project activity
Part 4 —Net abatement amount
Division 1 —Preliminary
17 Operation of this Part
18 Simplified outline
19 Overview of gases accounted for in abatement calculations
20 References to factors and parameters from external sources
Division 2 —Vegetation fuel type map
21 Requirement to create vegetation fuel type map
22 Validation survey
23 Validation
Division 3 —Calculation of carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount—general
Subdivision 1 —Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount
24 Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount
Subdivision 2 —Calculation of adjusted net annual project abatement
25 Outline
26 Calculation of adjusted net annual project abatement
Subdivision 3 —Calculation of net annual project abatement
27 Net annual project abatement
Subdivision 4 —Calculation of annual fossil fuel emissions by fuel type and greenhouse gas
28 Annual fossil fuel emissions—by fuel type and greenhouse gas
Division 4 —Calculation of net annual project abatement without using SavBAT 2
Subdivision 1 —Preliminary
29 Application of Division
30 Simplified outline
Subdivision 2 —Calculation of net annual project abatement
31 Net annual project abatement
Subdivision 3 —Baseline period and average annual baseline emissions
32 Requirement to determine baseline period and calculate average annual baseline emissions
33 Baseline period
34 Average annual baseline emissions
Subdivision 4 —Total annual project emissions
35 Total annual project emissions
Subdivision 5 —Baseline and project fire emissions
36 Fire emissions
37 Fire emissions—by fire season
38 Area burnt
Subdivision 6 —Calculating fire scar area
39 Method for calculating fire scar area
40 Monthly fire maps
41 Seasonal fire maps
42 Validation of seasonal fire maps if monthly fire maps not sourced from NAFI
43 Validation survey for seasonal fire maps
44 Validation of seasonal fire maps
45 Calculating fire scar area
Subdivision 7 —Calculation of potential fire emissions
46 Potential fire emissions
47 Potential methane emissions—fine fuel size class
48 Potential methane emissions—coarse, heavy and shrub fuel size classes
49 Potential nitrous oxide emissions—fine fuel size class
50 Potential nitrous oxide emissions—coarse, heavy and shrub fuel size classes
Subdivision 8 —Fine fuels load
51 Method for calculating fine fuel load
52 Producing years since last burnt (YSLB) maps
53 Calculating area burnt for each YSLB value
54 Fine fuel load values
Subdivision 9 —Calculating fossil fuel emissions
55 Fossil fuel emissions
Part 5 —Reporting, record-keeping and monitoring requirements
Division 1 —Offsets report requirements
56 Operation of this Division
57 Information that must be included in offsets reports
Division 2 —Monitoring
58 Operation of this Division
59 Fossil fuel use
Division 3 —Partial reporting
60 Partial reporting
Schedule 1 —Vegetation fuel types
Table G Vegetation fuel types—high rainfall zone
Table H Vegetation fuel types—low rainfall zone
Schedule 2 —Tables
Table I Burning efficiency (proportion)
Table J Patchiness
Table K Fuel loads (tonnes / hectare)
Table L Emission factor for methane
Table M Carbon content
Table N Emission factor for nitrous oxide
Table O Nitrogen to carbon ratio
Table P Fine fuel accumulation value (tonnes / hectare)
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Name
This is the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015.
2 Commencement
This determination commences on the day after it is registered.
3 Authority
This determination is made under subsection 106(1) of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
4 Duration
This determination remains in force for the period that:
(a) begins when this determination commences; and
(b) ends on the day before this determination would otherwise be repealed under subsection 50(1) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
5 Definitions
In this determination:
Act means the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
baseline period, for a project area that is wholly within either the low rainfall zone or the high rainfall zone—see section 33.
calendar year means a period of 12 months starting on 1 January.
CO2-e means carbon dioxide equivalent.
coarse fuel means vegetation fuel comprising dead twigs and branches of not less than 6 millimetres in diameter and not more than 50 millimetres in diameter.
earlier savanna-burning determination means either of the following:
(a) the Carbon Farming (Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Early Dry Season Savanna Burning) Methodology Determination 2012;
(b) the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Early Dry Season Savanna Burning—1.1) Methodology Determination 2013.
early dry season—see section 7.
fine fuel means vegetation fuel comprising grass, leaf litter, bark and dead small twigs of less than 6 millimetres in diameter.
fire management means fire management carried out with the objective of abating greenhouse gas emissions from fire without increasing greenhouse gas emissions from other sources such as livestock or decomposition of organic carbon.
fire season means the early dry season or the late dry season.
fuel size class means the vegetation fuel belonging to a given size class.
GIS means geographic information system.
GPS means global positioning system.
heavy fuel means vegetation fuel comprising dead branches and logs of greater than 50 millimetres in diameter.
high rainfall zone—see section 6.
late dry season—see section 7.
low rainfall zone—see section 6.
NAFI means the North Australian Fire Information website.
NGER Regulations means the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2008.
project commencement means the first day of the project’s first reporting period under the determination.
raster format, in relation to a map, means a map that has been divided into a grid of pixels that cover a geographical space and can be coded according to characteristics of, or relating to, the area represented by the pixel.
savanna means a tropical or sub-tropical vegetation formation with continuous grass cover occasionally interrupted by trees and shrubs.
savanna fire management project—see section 8.
SavBAT 2 means the web-based information technology tool known as the Savanna Burning Abatement Tool, that is published from time to time on the website http://savbat2.net.au with a statement that:
(a) it is SavBAT 2 for this determination; and
(b) if it differs from the version that was on the website at the time of commencement of this determination—the differences consist only of:
(i) updates which are of a minor nature; or
(ii) updates which are necessary or incidental to such updates.
Note SavBAT 2 automates some processes required under this determination and provides reports that meet some of the reporting and record-keeping requirements of this determination.
shrub fuel means components of a living plant that are less than 6 millimetres diameter, from vegetation with a stem diameter of less than 50 millimetres measured at a height of 1.3 metres.
vegetation fuel type means a vegetation fuel type listed in Schedule 1.
vegetation fuel type map means a vegetation fuel type map that complies with Division 2 of Part 4.
waypoint means a point in geographical space where information is collected, which is defined by a set of coordinates.
waypoint buffer means a circular area with a radius of 100 metres that surrounds a waypoint.
years-since-last-burnt value—see section 52.
Note Other words and expressions used in this determination have the meaning given by the Act. These include:
eligible offsets project
emission
greenhouse gas
methodology determination
offsets project
offsets report
project
project area
project proponent
Regulator
reporting period
6 Meaning of high rainfall zone and low rainfall zone
In this determination:
high rainfall zone means the area of land indicated as the high rainfall zone on the Savanna Fire Management High Rainfall Zone spatial data layer as published on the Department’s website at the date of commencement of this determination.
low rainfall zone means the area of land indicated as the low rainfall zone on the Savanna Fire Management Low Rainfall Zone spatial data layer as published on the Department’s website at the date of commencement of this determination.
early dry season or EDS means the period in a calendar year that:
(a) begins on 1 January; and
(b) ends on 31 July.
late dry season or LDS means the period in a calendar year that:
(a) begins on 1 August; and
(b) ends on 31 December.
Note Each year in northern Australia, there is also a wet season, which occurs approximately from November to April. For the purposes of this determination, the definitions of the early and late dry seasons overlap with the wet season, as fire generally does not occur during the wet season.
Part 2—Savanna fire management projects
8 Savanna fire management projects
(1) For paragraph 106(1)(a) of the Act, this determination applies to an offsets project that:
(a) aims to reduce the emission of methane and nitrous oxide from fire by using fire management primarily in the early dry season; and
(b) is carried out in a savanna that includes land in either or both of the following:
(i) the high-rainfall zone;
(ii) the low-rainfall zone.
(2) A project covered by subsection (1) is a savanna fire management project.
Part 3—Project requirements
Division 1—General
9 General
For paragraph 106(1)(b) of the Act, to be an eligible offsets project, a savanna fire management project must meet the requirements in this Part.
Division 2—Additionality
10 Requirement in lieu of newness requirement
(1) For subparagraph 27(4A)(a)(ii) of the Act, the requirement in subsection (2) is in lieu of the newness requirement for a project to which this determination applies.
(2) The project must be a savanna fire management project.
11 Requirement in lieu of regulatory additionality requirement
(1) For subparagraph 27(4A)(b)(ii) of the Act, the requirement in subsection (2) is in lieu of the regulatory additionality requirement for a savanna fire management project.
(2) A project area must not include land where fire management for the primary purpose of reducing emissions from fire is required to be carried out by or under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.
Division 3—Project area
Note A savanna fire management project may be declared with one or more project areas.
For reporting purposes, the proponent may choose to divide the project and give the project areas different reporting schedules, provided that they all satisfy the reporting period requirements under the Act.
However, whatever the reporting schedule for each project area, the method under this determination requires that the abatement calculations are made for each year of the crediting period, and reported on.
12 Requirement to be in high or low rainfall zone
Every part of each project area must be:
(a) in the high rainfall zone; or
(b) in the low rainfall zone.
Note A project may be carried out on both land in the high rainfall zone and land in the low rainfall zone.
13 Requirement to have specified vegetation fuel types
A part of a project area that is in:
(a) the high rainfall zone; or
(b) the low rainfall zone;
must contain at least one of the vegetation fuel types listed for that zone in Schedule 1.
14 When separate project areas in different rainfall zones are needed
A project area for which the project proponent intends to calculate net annual project abatement without using SavBAT 2 must be wholly within either the high rainfall zone or the low rainfall zone.
15 Variations to project areas
(1) This section applies to a savanna fire management project if:
(a) the Regulator has declared that the project is an eligible offsets project; and
(b) the project proponent proposes to vary the declaration after lodging the first offsets report.
(2) The project, as it is proposed to be varied, is not an eligible offsets project if it would include a project area that overlaps, but is not identical with, a project area identified in the declaration.
Note 1 The effect of this section is that project areas may be added to a project, but that an existing project area cannot be divided, or increased or reduced in size.
Note 2 In the case of a project to which the Regulator approved the application of this determination under subsection 130(2) of the Act, the declaration would identify the project area of the project under the relevant earlier savanna-burning determination.
Division 4—Project activity
16 Project activity
(1) The project must be one in which:
(a) fire management is carried out in each project area in the early dry season; and
(b) fire management may also be carried out in each project area in the late dry season.
(2) The fire management must be carried out with the intention of ensuring that, in each project area, the early dry season burn for a year in the crediting period is greater than the average early dry season burn during the baseline period.
(3) The fire management may be combined with natural or constructed barriers to extinguish fires or reduce their spread.
(4) The project must not be one in which the project proponent attempts to increase the proportion of the annual area burnt by all fires in a project area in the early dry season by a method other than fire management.
Example The project cannot be one in which stocking densities are deliberately increased in or adjacent to the project in the late dry season for the primary purpose of reducing fuel loads.
(5) For subsection (2), the early dry season burn for a particular project area and for a particular calendar year is the ratio of the area burnt within that project area during the early dry season to the total area burnt within that project area during that year.
Part 4—Net abatement amount
Division 1—Preliminary
17 Operation of this Part
For paragraph 106(1)(c) of the Act, this Part specifies the method for working out the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for a reporting period for a savanna fire management project that is an eligible offsets project.
18 Simplified outline
This section sets out a simplified outline of the method specified in this Part.
• First, the project proponent must develop and validate a vegetation fuel type map in accordance with Division 2. There is an exception to this requirement for projects that are transitioning from an earlier savanna-burning determination, in which case the project proponent is able to rely on existing vegetation maps for those parts of the project that are transitioning.
• Second, the project proponent must calculate the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for the relevant reporting period—see Division 3 and, where the calculation is to be performed manually, see also Division 4. This involves the following:
(c) The net annual abatement for year View image in the official source, View image in the official source, can be calculated either by using the offsets reporting functionality of SavBAT 2 or, in many cases, by following the steps set out in Division 4—see Subdivision 3 of Division 3.
• The project proponent is only able to calculate the net annual abatement for year View image in the official source, View image in the official source, without using SavBAT 2, if the relevant project area is wholly within either the high rainfall zone or the low rainfall zone.
• If the project consists of more than one project area, then:
(a) the project proponent must carry out the steps set out in Division 3 and, where appropriate, Division 4 separately for each project area; and
(b) the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for the reporting period is the sum of the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amounts, View image in the official source, for each project area.
19 Overview of gases accounted for in abatement calculations
When making calculations under this Part:
(a) the greenhouse gases listed in Table A must be taken into account in relation to the specified project activities; and
(b) no other gases or project activities may be taken into account.
Table A—Greenhouse gases accounted for in abatement calculations
Project activity
Greenhouse gas
Fires in the or each project area during the baseline period and crediting period
Methane (CH4)<br>Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Fuel use to establish and maintain the project; for example, for helicopters and other energy-consuming equipment or drip torches
20 References to factors and parameters from external sources
(1) If SavBAT 2, or a calculation in this determination, includes a factor or parameter that is defined or calculated by reference to another instrument or writing, the factor or parameter to be used for a reporting period is the factor or parameter referred to in, or calculated by reference to, the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if:
(a) the determination specifies otherwise; or
(b) it is not possible to define or calculate the factor or parameter by reference to the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period.
Division 2—Vegetation fuel type map
21 Requirement to create vegetation fuel type map
(1) Subsection (2) applies:
(a) when an application is made under section 22 of the Act; and
(b) when an application is made, in accordance with regulations or legislative rules made for the purposes of section 29 of the Act, to vary a declaration under section 27 of the Act.
Note Subsection (2) does not apply when an application is made under section 128 of the Act.
(2) The project proponent must:
(a) create a vegetation fuel type map in accordance with this section; and
(b) conduct a validation survey in accordance with section 22; and
(c) validate the map in accordance with section 23; and
(d) if the map is not valid:
(i) re-interpret and re-classify the map; and
(ii) validate the re-interpreted and re-classified map in accordance with section 23.
(3) When re-interpreting and re-classifying the map, the project proponent must not use the waypoints that were used to validate the map, nor information from them.
(4) The map must:
(a) cover the area referred to in subsection (5); and
(b) be in raster format; and
(c) consist of pixels that represent:
(i) for a map that is to be used in SavBAT 2—250 metres by 250 metres; and
(ii) otherwise—250 metres by 250 metres or less.
(5) For paragraph (4)(a), the area is the following:
(a) for a map prepared because of paragraph (1)(a)—the project area, or all project areas;
(b) for a map prepared because of paragraph (1)(b)—any project area under the declaration as so varied for which the requirement under subsection (2) has not previously been met.
Note A single vegetation fuel type map may cover more than one project area.
(6) The project proponent must assign to each pixel a code as follows:
(a) if the area represented by the pixel is dominated by a particular vegetation fuel type—the code for that vegetation fuel type;
(b) otherwise—‘ineligible’.
Meaning of dominated
(7) For this section, an area of land is dominated by a vegetation fuel type if the area occupied by that vegetation fuel type is:
(a) greater than the area of land occupied by any other vegetation fuel type; and
(b) greater than the area of land that is not occupied by a vegetation fuel type.
Transitional rule
(8) If:
(a) a person was the project proponent for a project that was declared eligible under an earlier savanna-burning determination; and
(b) a vegetation map was validated in accordance with that determination (the transitioning vegetation map); and
(c) the Regulator approves the application of this determination to that project under section 130 of the Act;
then:
(d) the transitioning vegetation map is taken to be a vegetation fuel type map that complies with this Division; and
(e) the vegetation class in the transitioning vegetation map referred to in Table B is taken to refer to the corresponding code referred to in the table.
Note The vegetation fuel type name in the table is provided for information only.
Table B—Correspondence between vegetation class and vegetation fuel type code
Vegetation class
Vegetation fuel type code
Vegetation fuel type name
EOF
hOFM
Open Forest Mixed
EW
hWMi
Woodland Mixed
SW
hWHu
Woodland Hummock
SH
hSHH
Shrubland Hummock
22 Validation survey
(1) To validate a vegetation fuel type map, the project proponent must conduct a survey with a set of waypoints that satisfies this section.
(2) The validation survey must be conducted:
(a) no earlier than three years before project commencement; and
(b) no later than submission of the first offsets report that relates to the area covered by the map.
(3) The set of waypoints:
(a) must:
(i) be collected from the area covered by the map that is being validated; and
(ii) be independent of any waypoints that were part of the calibration process used to classify or re-classify the vegetation type fuel map; and
(iii) be identified by a unique label; and
(iv) be selected having regard to transects that intersect, or a grid that intersects:
(A) all vegetation fuel types in the area covered by the map that is being validated; and
(B) if the area covered by the map that is being validated corresponds to land in different project areas—each such project area; and
(b) may be selected randomly or systematically.
(4) Each waypoint must possess the following attributes:
(a) a unique label;
(b) time of collection;
(c) date of collection;
(d) latitude and longitude coordinates.
(5) The project proponent must:
(a) survey an area of approximately 1 hectare around each waypoint, using information derived from GPS, using either or both of the following:
(i) ground surveys;
(ii) aerial surveys; and
(b) for each waypoint, assign a code that corresponds to:
(i) if the area surveyed is dominated by a particular vegetation fuel type—the code for that vegetation fuel type; and
(ii) otherwise—‘ineligible’.
(6) For this section, dominated has the same meaning as in section 21.
23 Validation
(1) This section sets out how to validate a vegetation fuel type map for the purposes of section 21.
(2) The project proponent must:
(a) convert a copy of the map into vector format (the vectorised vegetation fuel type map), without simplifying or smoothing the polygon boundaries; and
(b) assign a code to each polygon representing the code of the pixel or pixels that comprise the polygon; and
(c) select an assessment set of waypoints from the set referred to in section 22, having regard to:
(i) all vegetation fuel types in the area covered by the map that is being validated; and
(ii) if the area covered by the map that is being validated corresponds to land in different project areas—each such project area.
(3) The assessment set:
(a) must not include any waypoints whose waypoint buffers overlap; and
(b) may be selected randomly or systematically.
(4) For an area being validated with a size indicated in Table C, the assessment set must have at least the number of waypoints indicated in the table.
Table C—Minimum number of waypoints
Size of area
Minimum number of waypoints
> 20,000 km2
500 plus 1 waypoint for every 100 km2 over 20,000 km2
10,000 km2–20,000 km2
500
< 10,000 km2
250
(5) A vegetation fuel type map is validated in accordance with this section if the map has an accuracy of 80 per cent or greater.
(6) When validating a map that has been re-interpreted and re-classified for the purposes of subparagraph 21(2)(d)(ii), the project proponent may use the assessment set that was used when seeking to validate the map referred to in paragraph 21(2)(a), and may also add further waypoints.
(7) For this section, the accuracy of the map is given by the following formula:
assessed waypoint means a waypoint in the assessment set.
verified waypoint: a waypoint in the assessment set is a verified waypoint if, when the vectorised vegetation fuel type map is overlaid with a map that shows the waypoint buffers:
(a) the waypoint buffer of the waypoint overlaps with one or more polygons of the vectorised vegetation fuel type map; and
(b) the code assigned to the waypoint is the same as the code assigned to at least one of those polygons.
Division 3—Calculation of carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount—general
Subdivision 1—Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount
24 Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount
Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount—single project area
(1) The carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount, View image in the official source, for the project in relation to a reporting period, and for a particular project area, is calculated using Equation 1.
the number of years in the crediting period that are being reported on in that reporting period.
Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount—multiple project areas
(2) If the project has more than one project area, the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount, View image in the official source, is calculated by:
(a) applying Equation 1 to each project area; and
(b) summing each of the values so calculated.
Subdivision 2—Calculation of adjusted net annual project abatement
25 Outline
This section outlines the calculation of the adjusted net annual project abatement, View image in the official source, that is performed under this Subdivision.
• The adjusted net annual project abatement, View image in the official source, is calculated by adjusting the net annual project abatement, View image in the official source, to manage the risk of the project containing some year(s) in which emissions are higher than the average annual baseline emissions. This is achieved by means of a ‘uncertainty buffer’, View image in the official source, which is added to in years in which net annual abatement is greater than zero and subtracted from in years in which net annual project abatement is less than zero. The value of the uncertainty buffer is calculated at the end of each calendar year. At the beginning of the project, including transitioning projects, the value of the uncertainty buffer is zero.
• The amount stored in the uncertainty buffer is capped at a maximum, View image in the official source, which is equal to 5 per cent of the average annual baseline emissions. The uncertainty buffer is only added to if the uncertainty buffer in the preceding year is less than the maximum value, and where net annual project abatement is greater than zero.
• If SavBAT 2 includes the functionality to calculate adjusted net annual project abatement, the project proponent may either use SavBAT 2 to perform the calculation, or may perform it manually. If SavBAT 2 does not include that functionality, the project proponent must perform the calculation manually, in accordance with this Subdivision.
26 Calculation of adjusted net annual project abatement
(1) Subject to subsection (2), for each calendar year in the crediting period, the project proponent must calculate adjusted net annual project abatement, View image in the official source, in accordance with this section.
(2) The project proponent may use SavBAT 2 to calculate adjusted net annual project abatement if SavBAT 2 includes the functionality to perform that calculation.
(a) using the offsets report functionality of SavBAT 2; or
Note In SavBAT 2, the output for net annual project abatement is ‘Net annual project abatement’ in Table 28.
(b) so long as the project area in relation to which the net annual project abatement is being calculated is wholly within either the high rainfall zone or the low rainfall zone—in accordance with Division 4.
(2) In calculating net annual project abatement, the project proponent must:
(b) if using the offsets report functionality of SavBAT 2—enter the fossil fuel emissions so calculated into SavBAT 2 as fuel usage details; and
(c) if calculating net annual project abatement without using SavBAT 2—use the fossil fuel emissions so calculated in performing the calculations under Subdivision 9 of Division 4 (Equation 15).
Subdivision 4—Calculation of annual fossil fuel emissions by fuel type and greenhouse gas
28 Annual fossil fuel emissions—by fuel type and greenhouse gas
the energy content of fossil fuel typeView image in the official source, which is:<br>(a) if the amount of the fossil fuel used is estimated in gigajoules—1; and<br>(b) otherwise—the amount, in gigajoules per kilolitre, from the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Measurement) Determination 2008.
emission factor, in kilograms CO2-e per gigajoule, for each greenhouse gas View image in the official source that includes an oxidisation factor for each fossil fuel type View image in the official source—from the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Measurement) Determination 2008.
Division 4—Calculation of net annual project abatement without using SavBAT 2
Subdivision 1—Preliminary
29 Application of Division
This Division applies only if a project proponent calculates net annual project abatement, View image in the official source, without using SavBAT 2.
Note Calculations under this Division can only be performed for a project area that is wholly within either the high rainfall zone or the low rainfall zone. They cannot be performed for a project area that includes land within the high rainfall zone and land within the low rainfall zone. For such project areas, the offsets report functionality of SavBAT 2 must be used.
• The net annual project abatement is a function of the average annual baseline emissions, View image in the official source. To calculate this amount, the project proponent must determine a baseline period and calculate the average annual baseline emissions in accordance with Subdivision 3.
• The net annual project abatement is also a function of the total annual project emissions for that calendar year of the reporting period, View image in the official source. This amount is calculated in accordance with Subdivision 4.
(b) calculating the potential fire emissions, View image in the official source, which is done in accordance with Subdivision 7 and Subdivision 8.
• View image in the official source is also a function of the annual fossil fuel emissions, View image in the official source. These are calculated in accordance with Subdivision 9, and take account of the fossil fuel emissions by fuel type and greenhouse gas, which are calculated in accordance with Subdivision 4 of Division 3.
Subdivision 2—Calculation of net annual project abatement
total annual project emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in calendar yearView image in the official source—from Equation 5 (see Subdivision 4).
Subdivision 3—Baseline period and average annual baseline emissions
32 Requirement to determine baseline period and calculate average annual baseline emissions
For section 31 (Equation 3), to calculate average annual baseline emissions, View image in the official source, the project proponent must:
(a) determine a baseline period for the project in accordance with section 33; and
(b) using that baseline period, calculate the value of View image in the official source in accordance with section 34 (Equation 4A and Equation 4B).
33 Baseline period
Baseline period—general rule
(1) Subject to subsection (2):
(a) the baseline period for a project area is:
(i) for a project area in the low-rainfall zone—15 years; and
(ii) for a project area in the high-rainfall zone—10 years; and
(b) the last year of the baseline period is:
(i) for a project area that is added to the project after project commencement—the calendar year before the day on which the project area is added; and
(ii) otherwise—the calendar year before project commencement.
Baseline period—transitioning projects
(2) If:
(a) the project area was the project area of an eligible offsets project under an earlier savanna-burning determination; and
(b) an offsets report was submitted that related to that determination;
the baseline period for that area is the 10-year period that is determined in accordance with that determination that was reported on in offsets reports on that project.
34 Average annual baseline emissions
Average annual baseline emissions are calculated:
(a) if the project area is in the low-rainfall zone—using Equation 4A; and
(b) if the project area is in the high-rainfall zone—using Equation 4B.
(c) if the project proponent did not source the monthly fire maps from the NAFI—validate the seasonal fire maps in accordance with sections 42, 43 and 44; and
(1) If the project proponent does not source monthly fire maps from the NAFI, the project proponent must create monthly fire maps that:
(a) cover the project area; and
(b) are geospatial maps in raster format; and
(c) have a pixel size of 250 metres by 250 metres or less.
(2) However, if satellite imagery products of 250 metres by 250 metres or less are not available for a particular month, a monthly fire map may have a pixel size of 1 square kilometre or less.
(3) The project proponent must assign to each pixel a code as follows:
(a) if more than half of the area of the pixel burnt in that calendar month—‘burnt’;
(b) otherwise—‘unburnt’.
(4) The 12 monthly fire maps that are used to create the seasonal fire maps for a particular year must be derived from a single satellite imagery product.
41 Seasonal fire maps
(1) Each seasonal fire map must:
(a) be a geospatial map in raster format; and
(b) have the finest possible resolution allowed for by the monthly fire maps.
(2) The project proponent must assign, to each pixel, a code as follows:
(a) if the code for that pixel in any of the monthly fire maps is ‘burnt’—‘burnt’;
(b) otherwise—‘unburnt’.
42 Validation of seasonal fire maps if monthly fire maps not sourced from NAFI
(1) If one or more of the monthly fire maps are not sourced from the NAFI, for each seasonal fire map in which such monthly fire maps were used, the project proponent must:
(a) conduct a validation survey in accordance with section 43; and
(b) validate the seasonal fire map in accordance with section 44 and
(c) if the map is not valid:
(i) re-interpret and re-classify the monthly fire maps; and
(ii) validate the seasonal fire map based on the re-interpreted and re-classified monthly fire maps, in accordance with section 44.
(2) When re-interpreting and re-classifying a map, the project proponent must not use the waypoints that were used to validate the map, nor information from them.
43 Validation survey for seasonal fire maps
(1) To validate a seasonal fire map, if required to do so, the project proponent must conduct a survey with a set of waypoints that satisfies this section.
(2) The set of waypoints:
(a) must:
(i) be collected from the project area; and
(ii) be independent of any waypoints that were part of the calibration process used to classify or re-classify the monthly fire maps; and
(iii) be collected and surveyed:
(A) for a seasonal fire map that relates to the early dry season—between April and July of that season; and
(B) for a seasonal fire map that relates to the late dry season—between September and December of that season; and
(iv) be identified with a unique label; and
(v) be selected having regard to transects that intersect, or a grid that intersects:
(A) both burnt and unburnt areas in the project area in the relevant fire season; and
(B) if there is more than one project area—all project areas; and
(b) may be selected randomly or systematically.
(3) Each waypoint must possess the following attributes:
(a) a unique label;
(b) time of collection;
(c) date of collection;
(d) latitude and longitude coordinates.
(4) The project proponent must:
(a) survey an area of approximately 1 hectare around each waypoint, using information derived from GPS, using either or both of the following:
(i) ground surveys;
(ii) aerial surveys; and
(b) based on the result of that survey, assign to the waypoint a code as follows:
(i) if more than half of the area surveyed is burnt—‘burnt’;
(ii) if less than half of the area surveyed is burnt—‘unburnt’;
(iii) if not readily apparent—‘unknown’.
44 Validation of seasonal fire maps
(1) This section sets out how to validate a seasonal fire map.
(2) The project proponent must:
(a) convert a copy of the map into vector format (the vectorised seasonal fire map), without simplifying or smoothing the polygon boundaries; and
(b) assign a code to each polygon representing the code of the pixel or pixels that comprise the polygon; and
(c) select an assessment set of waypoints from the set referred to in section 43, having regard to:
(i) both burnt and unburnt areas in the project area; and
(ii) if there is more than one project area—all project areas.
(3) The assessment set:
(a) must not include any waypoints whose waypoint buffers overlap; and
(b) may be selected randomly or systematically.
(4) For an area being validated with a size indicated in Table F, the assessment set must have at least the number of waypoints indicated in the table.
Table F—Minimum number of waypoints
Size of area
Minimum number of waypoints
> 20,000 km2
500 plus 1 waypoint for every 100 km2 over 20,000 km2
10,000 km2–20,000 km2
500
< 10,000 km2
250
(5) A seasonal fire map is validated in accordance with this section if the map has an accuracy of 80 per cent or greater.
(6) For this section, the accuracy of the map is given by the following formula:
assessed waypoint means a waypoint in the assessment set.
verified waypoint: a waypoint in the assessment set is a verified waypoint if, when the vectorised seasonal fire map is overlaid with a map that shows the waypoint buffers:
(a) the waypoint buffer of the waypoint overlaps with one or more polygons of the vectorised seasonal fire map; and
(b) the code assigned to the waypoint is the same as the code assigned to at least one of those polygons.
45 Calculating fire scar area
For paragraph 39(d), to calculate the fire scar area, the project proponent must, using GIS software:
(a) overlay the vegetation fuel type map with each seasonal fire map; and
(a) produce a Years Since Last Burnt (YSLB) map for calendar year View image in the official source in accordance with section 52, or source such a map from the NAFI; and
(c) have the finest possible resolution allowed by the maps from which it was produced; and
(d) be produced:
(i) using GIS software; and
(ii) in accordance with this section.
(2) First, generate yearly fire maps, for calendar year View image in the official source, and for each of the 5 preceding calendar years, by aggregating:
(a) monthly fire maps that are sourced from the NAFI for that year; or
(b) seasonal fire maps that:
(i) were created using monthly fire maps that were not sourced from the NAFI; and
(ii) have been validated in accordance with Subdivision 6.
Part 5—Reporting, record-keeping and monitoring requirements
Division 1—Offsets report requirements
56 Operation of this Division
For paragraph 106(3)(a) of the Act, this Division sets out information that must be included in an offsets report about a savanna fire management project that is an eligible offsets project.
Note Other reporting requirements are set out in rules made under the Act.
57 Information that must be included in offsets reports
(1) Each offsets report must include the following for the project:
(a) if the project proponent was required, under Division 2 of Part 4, to create a vegetation fuel type map:
(i) a copy of the map that was created and validated in accordance with that Division; and
(ii) a map combining that map and the spatial data layers referred to in section 6 showing in which rainfall zone or zones each area to which the map relates is located; and
(iii) any ERF audit report relating to the validation of the map;
(b) a description of the project activities undertaken, including location and timing of early dry season burning activities;
(c) a declaration to the effect that densities of livestock in lands owned or managed by the project proponent have not increased as a consequence of the project;
(d) if the project proponent used SavBAT 2 to calculate net annual abatement—a copy of each report produced by SavBAT 2 for each calendar year in the reporting period;
(e) if the project proponent calculated net annual abatement for any project area without using SavBAT 2:
(i) copies of each seasonal fire map mentioned in section 41; and
(ii) for each monthly fire map not sourced from the NAFI—any ERF audit report relating to the validation of the seasonal fire map for which that monthly fire map was used.
(2) For subparagraph (1)(e)(i), if each fire season is uniquely identified, a single map may show the area burnt in both fire seasons in a calendar year.
(3) If, in the circumstances described in paragraph 20(2)(b), a factor or parameter is defined or calculated for a reporting period by reference to an instrument or writing as in force from time to time, the offsets report about the project for the reporting period must include the following information for the factor or parameter:
(a) the versions of the instrument or writing used;
(b) the start and end dates of each use;
(c) the reasons why it was not possible to define or calculate the factor or parameter by reference to the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period.
(4) For this section, ERF audit report has the same meaning as it has in the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
Division 2—Monitoring
58 Operation of this Division
For paragraph 106(3)(d) of the Act, this Division sets out monitoring requirements for a savanna fire management project that is an eligible offsets project.
59 Fossil fuel use
(1) For each fossil fuel type, the project proponent must monitor the amount of fuel, in kilolitres, used when undertaking project activities in each project area in each calendar year in the crediting period reported on.
(2) The amount of fossil fuel may be monitored from the following:
(a) invoices;
(b) vehicle logbooks;
(c) aircraft logbooks;
(d) records of project activities;
(e) reports of calculated consumption based on hourly or per hectare consumption rates.
(3) If fossil fuel use for project activities cannot be monitored separately from fossil fuel use for non-project activities, estimates of fossil fuel use for project activities may be based on the time spent undertaking project activities and the known average fuel consumption of vehicles or machinery.
Division 3—Partial reporting
60 Partial reporting
For section 77A of the Act, an overall project may only be divided into parts that consist of one or more whole project areas.
Schedule 1—Vegetation fuel types
Sections 5, 13 and 21
The vegetation fuel type is defined by the structural formation (canopy height and foliage projected cover) of the dominant stratum and the grass type. The characteristic descriptors are used in making judgments about the appropriate classification.
Table G Vegetation fuel types—high rainfall zone
Vegetation fuel type code Vegetation fuel type name Dominant strata Grasses Characteristic descriptors
Strata Canopy height Foliage projected cover Canopy trees Shrubs Substrates
hOFM Open forest with mixed grass Canopy Trees Majority of trees >15 m 30-70 % Dominated by native perennial and annual tussock grasses Various Eucalyptus and Corymbia species (for example, E.tetrodonta, E.miniata, C. nesophila, C. stockeri) Various species—well developed shrub layer may/may not be present Well drained deep soils, often sandy loams
hWMi Woodland with mixed grass Canopy Trees Majority of trees >8 m 10-30 % Dominated by Native perennial and annual tussock grasses; may be associated with hummock grasses (Triodia species) Various Eucalyptus (for example, E. tetrodonta) and Corymbia spp, often with other taxa (for example, Erythrophleum, Terminalia, Callitris) Various species—well developed shrub layer may/may not be present Various situations, from well-drained gravelly sites to those with impeded drainage
hWHu Woodland with hummock grass Canopy Trees Majority of trees >8 m 10-30 % Dominated by hummock (Triodia) grasses. A mixture of native perennial and annual tussock grasses may also be present Various Eucalyptus and Corymbia often with other taxa (for example, Erythrophleum, Terminalia, Xanthostemon) Various species—well developed shrub layer may/may not be present; where present, may include woody heath taxa as listed for SHH Rocky shallow soils derived typically from sandstone (quartzite); also lateritic hills and plateau
hSHH Shrubland (heath) with hummock grass Shrubs Majority of shrubs <5 m 0-30 % Hummock (Triodia) grasses, and/or other perennial restios (Lepyrodia, Dapsilanthus) sedges (Schoenus sparteus) or graminoids (for example, Lomandra, Xanthorrhoea) Sparse trees Conspicuous cover of heathy shrubs (for example, Acacia, Calytrix, Grevillea, Hibbertia, Hibiscus, Jacksonia, Tephrosia, Verticordia) Shallow to rocky substrates derived typically from sandstone, metamorphosed sandstone (for example, quartzite), sometimes laterised; sandsheets
Table H Vegetation fuel types—low rainfall zone
Vegetation fuel type code Vegetation fuel type name Dominant strata Grasses Characteristic descriptors
Strata Canopy height Foliage projected cover Canopy trees Shrubs Substrates
lWTu Woodland with tussock grass Canopy Trees Majority of trees >10 m 10-30 % Native perennial and annual tussock grasses Various Eucalyptus (for example, E. tectifica, ) and Corymbia (for example, C. opaca) often with other taxa (for example, Erythrophleum, Terminalia) Well developed shrub layer may/not be present. Majority deep well drained soils to those with impeded drainage, typically on flat to undulating landtypes with fertile volcanic-derived substrates
lWMi Woodland with mixed tussock / hummock grass Canopy Trees Majority of trees >10 m 10-30 % Native perennial and annual tussock grass, may be associated with hummock (Triodia) grasses Various Eucalyptus (for example, E. tetrodonta) and Corymbia spp, often with other taxa (for example, Erythrophleum, Terminalia, Callitris) Well developed shrub layer may/may not be present. Various situations including undulating to hilly landtypes on imperfectly to well drained soils
lWHu Woodland with hummock grasses Canopy Trees Majority of trees >10 m 10-30 % Hummock (Triodia) grasses usually dominant, tussock grasses may also occur Various Eucalyptus and Corymbia often with other taxa (for example. Erythrophleum, Terminalia, Xanthostemon) Well developed shrub layer may/may not be present; may include woody heath taxa Rocky shallow soils derived typically from sandstone (quartzite); also lateritic hills and plateau
lOWM Open woodland with mixed grass Canopy Trees Majority of trees <10 m <10 % Hummock (Triodia) grasses often dominant, or codominant with tussock grasses Various Eucalyptus and Corymbia, including C.dichromophloia, E.leucophloia, E. brevifolia, E.pruinosa, E.tectifica Well developed shrub layer may/may not be present. Where present, may include woody heath taxa Shallow substrates on undulating stony rises and rocky hills
lSHH Shrubland with hummock grass Shrubs Majority of shrubs <5 m <30 % Hummock (Triodia) grass, and/or other perennial restios (Lepyrodia, Dapsilanthus) sedges (Schoenus sparteus) or graminoids (for example, Lomandra, Xanthorrhoea) Sparse trees Conspicuous shrub (heath) layer, commonly Acacia species and various other taxa (for example, Calytrix, Grevillea, Hibbertia, Hibiscus, Jacksonia, Tephrosia, Veritcordia ) Sand plains often over laterite, or rocky, shallow substrates derived from sandstone
Schedule 2—Tables
Table I Burning efficiency (proportion)
Sections 47, 48, 49 and 50
Rainfall zone Fuel size class Early Dry Season Late Dry Season
High rainfall zone Fine 0.7444 0.8604
Coarse 0.1464 0.3571
Heavy 0.1708 0.3093
Shrub 0.2896 0.3934
Low rainfall zone Fine 0.799 0.833
Coarse 0.109 0.202
Heavy 0.067 0.119
Shrub 0.098 0.110
Note Table I is the same as Table 2 in SavBAT 2.
Table J Patchiness
Section 38
Fire season Patchiness(proportion burnt)
High rainfall zone Low rainfall zone
EDS 0.709 0.79
LDS 0.889 0.97
Note Table J is the same as Table 1 in SavBAT 2.
Table K Fuel loads (tonnes / hectare)
Sections 48 and 50
Vegetation fuel type Fuel Size Class
Coarse Heavy Shrub
hOFM 1.4 4.8 1.5
hWMi 0.9 2.2 0.5
hWHu 1.2 3.4 1.7
hSHH 0.6 1.7 1.8
lWHu 1.85 1.15 1.84
lWMi 0.69 2.02 0.66
lWTu 1.39 1.25 0.27
lOWM 0.76 0.8 1.13
lSHH 0.73 0.17 0.87
Note Table K is the same as Table 13 in SavBAT 2.
Table L Emission factor for methane
Sections 47 and 48
Vegetation fuel type Fuel size class
Fine Coarse Heavy Shrub
hOFM 0.0031 0.0031 0.01 0.0031
hWMi 0.0031 0.0031 0.01 0.0031
hWHu 0.0031 0.0031 0.01 0.0031
hSHH 0.0015 0.0015 0.01 0.0015
lWHu 0.0015 0.0015 0.0158 0.0015
lWMi 0.0017 0.0017 0.0158 0.0017
lWTu 0.0016 0.0016 0.0158 0.0016
lOWM 0.0012 0.0012 0.0111 0.0012
lSHH 0.0013 0.0013 0.0111 0.0013
Note Table L is the same as Table 5 in SavBAT 2.
Table M Carbon content
Sections 47, 48, 49 and 50
Vegetation fuel type Fuel size class
fine coarse heavy shrub
hOFM 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46
hWMi 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46
hWHu 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46
hSHH 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46
lWHu 0.397 0.482 0.482 0.485
lWMi 0.397 0.482 0.482 0.485
lWTu 0.41 0.482 0.482 0.485
lOWM 0.399 0.482 0.482 0.485
lSHH 0.398 0.482 0.482 0.485
Note Table M is the same as Table 7 in SavBAT 2.
Table N Emission factor for nitrous oxide
Sections 49 and 50
Vegetation fuel type Fuel size class
Fine Coarse Heavy Shrub
hOFM 0.0075 0.0075 0.0036 0.0075
hWMi 0.0075 0.0075 0.0036 0.0075
hWHu 0.0075 0.0075 0.0036 0.0075
hSHH 0.0066 0.0066 0.0036 0.0066
lWHu 0.006 0.006 0.0146 0.006
lWMi 0.006 0.006 0.0146 0.006
lWTu 0.012 0.012 0.0146 0.012
lOWM 0.006 0.006 0.0146 0.006
lSHH 0.0059 0.0059 0.0146 0.0059
Note Table N is the same as Table 6 in SavBAT 2.
Table O Nitrogen to carbon ratio
Sections 49 and 50
Vegetation fuel type Fuel size class
fine coarse heavy shrub
hOFM 0.0096 0.0081 0.0081 0.0093
hWMi 0.0096 0.0081 0.0081 0.0093
hWHu 0.0096 0.0081 0.0081 0.0093
hSHH 0.0096 0.0081 0.0081 0.0093
lWHu 0.0113 0.00389 0.01497 0.00389
lWMi 0.0118 0.00389 0.01497 0.00389
lWTu 0.0105 0.00389 0.01497 0.00389
lOWM 0.0102 0.00389 0.01497 0.00389
lSHH 0.0107 0.00389 0.01497 0.00389
Note Table O is the same as Table 8 in SavBAT 2.
Table P Fine fuel accumulation value (tonnes / hectare)